Exploring the history of Phoenix, Arizona, just for fun. Advertising-free, supported by my patrons on Patreon. Thank you!

How Dwight Heard built Phoenix, Arizona and its tallest building

If you look very carefully in downtown Phoenix, on the west side of Central Avenue between Adams and Monroe, you can find the Heard Building. It's only nine stories tall, but in 1920 it must have been absolutely amazing. And it was a symbol of the prosperity of Phoenix, and one of it's most successful citizens, Dwight Heard.

Yes, Dwight is the same guy who created the Heard Museum. That is, he and his wife Maie, who was also his partner in their Real Estate business. To me, Dwight and Maie represent just about the ultimate of "unrealistically optimistic" people about the future of Phoenix. They arrived in Phoenix as a young couple, started their Real Estate Company in 1897 with the help of her father, and well, got rich. Very rich. And in 1920, Dwight must have absolutely blown everyone away with the gigantic "skyscraper" on Central Avenue.

The old Heard Building in 1908, southeast corner of Central and Adams, Phoenix, Arizona.

Time-travel with me to territorial Phoenix. Speaking for myself, I wouldn't have invested in Phoenix Real Estate. Who would want to live in such a harsh climate? And the streets of Phoenix, which were dirt, turned into mud every time the town flooded, which was every darn year. And some years, like 1891, were really, really, bad. But Dwight and Maie believed in the future of Phoenix. They encouraged investment, they sold real estate.

In front of the Heard Building in the 1930s

Although Dwight Heard never held a public office (he ran for Governor in 1924 and almost won), he was a pretty big mover and shaker in town. He ran the newspaper, the Arizona Republic. He had friends in high places, like Theodore Roosevelt, whom he encouraged to help build a dam on the Salt River in 1911.

As of this writing, the Heard Building is still there, and hopefully it will be preserved. As a symbol of "unrealistic optimism" about the future prosperity of Phoenix, no other building compares.
Become a PhD (Phoenix History Detective) with Brad today on Patreon!

Click here to become a Patron!
History Adventuring posts are shared there daily including "then and now" photos, billboards, aerials, videos, and super high-definition photos of historic Phoenix, Arizona. Discounts for seniors, students, teachers, and veterans.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Become a patron of History Adventuring on Patreon and have it delivered to you daily

Click here to become a Patron!If you like this blog, and would like to see more, please consider becoming a patron of History Adventuring on Patreon. If you're already a patron, thank you! You make this happen! History adventuring posts are shared there daily. The basic tier is a dollar a month, and the PhD tier, which includes "then and now" photos, billboards, aerials, videos, and super high-definition photos, is five dollars a month, and is discounted for seniors, veterans, and students.

Let's go to 1943 Phoenix, Arizona. Luckily, we have a nice new car, and luckily, we're right near Paul Bennett's Super Statio...

Search This Blog

Become a patron of History Adventuring on Patreon and have it delivered to you daily

Click here to become a Patron!If you like this blog, and would like to see more, please consider becoming a patron of History Adventuring on Patreon. If you're already a patron, thank you! You make this happen! History adventuring posts are shared there daily. The basic tier is a dollar a month, and the PhD tier, which includes "then and now" photos, billboards, aerials, videos, and super high-definition photos, is five dollars a month, and is discounted for seniors, veterans, and students.

Privacy Policy

Google Blogger uses cookies. I don't see any of this, they're related to how Google manages this platform. An HTTP cookie (also called web cookie, internet cookie, browser cookie, or simply cookie) is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored on the user's computer by the user's web browser while the user is browsing.

All of the content on this blog is free for you to use

Disclaimer

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely mine. If I claim or appear to be an expert on a certain topic or product or service area, I will only endorse products or services that I believe, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.